Paper carton collapser



Jan. 13, 1953 v w PETERSON 2,625,096

PARER CARTON CCLLAPSER Filed NOV. 2, 1950 '4 IN VEN TOR.

L ER G. PETERSON ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES 'iENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a paper carton collapser, and is particularly adapted for collapsing square paper milk cartons and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to be able to insert square paper cartons, as for instance milk cartons into a collapsing device so that the cartons may be collapsed and folded into a small space for convenient disposal. This is particularly important in restaurants and places where a considerable number of cartons are disposed of.

Other objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved carton collapser showing a carton about to be inserted in the collapser.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device showing the carton having been brought into place and about to be rolled up and collapsed.

Figure 3 illustrates the collapsing of the carton, the same being partly collapsed within the device.

Figure 4 illustrates the carton having been completely collapsed.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing the carton in broken line position.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the means for supporting the device.

The improved paper carton collapser consists of a substantially hollow casing I, open at both ends. The casing consists of a top and bottom and side walls 2 and 5, the latter being extended beyond the top and bottom as shown at 3. The extended side Walls are formed with aligned bearings i and 6 to receive the shaft portion 1 of a crank 1, the opposite end of the crank forming a handle. The shaft portion 1 of the crank is formed with an open end slot 9 to receive the crimped end I!) of a paper carton H, as will be hereinafter explained.

One of the outstanding features of my carton collapsing device is in the action of the springs l2, which are fixedly secured at their rear ends to the inner sides of the walls 2 and 5 of the casing, best illustrated in Figures 2, 5 and 6. When the carton is inserted within the device, as illustrated particularly in Figure 2, the springs I 2 normally tcnsioned inwardly toward each other force or crush the sides l3 of the carton toward each other inwardly so that the carton can be readily flattened and rolled as indicated in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The action of these springs, as stated above, is very important. Without these springs it would be very difiicult, if not impossible to roll the carton in a uniform roll as shown in Figure 4, therefore, I wish to particularly claim this feature in connection with the operation of the rotation of thepshaft I by the crank 8.

I have provided a means of mounting the device to any suitable object, as for instance coimters and the like, by securing the clip I l, referring to Figure 6, to the object, the said clip it has tapered grooves l5, adapted to fit the tapered tongues i6 forming part of the body 1 of the device.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved carton collapsing device. The carton is inserted into the rear open end of the casing to the position shown in Figure 2, with the end ready to be inserted in the slot in the shaft. Immediately the crimped end of the carton passes beyond the free ends of the flat springs, the latter spring outwardly toward each other forcing or crushing the side walls [3 of the carton.

When the end of the carton is inserted in the slot in the shaft and the crank is turned, the carton is drawn toward the shaft and rolled thereon.

Obviously, by employing the flat springs, when pulling the carton through the casing, the side walls are crushed inwardly so that the material of the carton is rendered susceptible to flattening when pulled forward by the shaft to form a roll.

After the carton is collapsed the crank is with drawn and the crushed pack, as shown in Figure 4, is dropped or otherwise removed from the casing.

What I claim is:

A device for collapsing substantially square paper cartons, having crimped front ends, comprising a substantially hollow casing open both ends having side, top and bottom walls, the side walls extended at one end beyond the top and bottom walls, a crank-shaft mounted in bearings in the extended side walls of the casing, the crank-shaft being bent at one end to form a handle, that portion of the crank-shaft located within the casing being provided with a slot adapted to receive therein the said crimped front end of a paper carton, the inner sides of the casing being provided with inwardly biased leaf springs such that, on the insertion of a carton into the casing with the said crimped front end thereof threaded through the slot in the said crank-shaft and subsequent rotation of the handle, the springs will assist in flattening the material of the carton prior to the formation of a material roll on. said crank-shaft.

"WALTER G. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CKTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

